After more than a year, thanks to COVID-19, race fans finally get to pack the deck chairs and return trackside for this weekend’s Round 2 of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul (ASBK), at Winton Motor Raceway.
Not since round 1, 2020 at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit have fans been allowed at a circuit because of government COVID-19 regulations around sporting events, and they will be salivating to soak up the atmosphere this weekend at Northern Victoria’s Winton Motor Raceway.
With limited tickets, and only available online, now is the time for fans to book their tickets at www.asbk.com.au
This weekend provides fans trackside with six spectacular classes of ASBK racing action that will see the countries best riders fight for every inch on track in the hope to score the first crucial Championship points on offer this year.
ASBK also have brand new 2021 merchandise available including awesome looking hoodies, t-shirts, coffee cups, bottle openers and masks at the Blatpack Merchandise Stand located in Trade Alley.
The Spokes.com.au activation area between turns 2 and 3 will host a special rider interview and autograph session on both Saturday and Sunday at lunch time.
This weekend’s action includes fan favourites the Pirelli Superbike class as well as Motorsport TV Supersport, Dunlop Supersport 300, YFS R3 Cup, bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup and Horsell Australian F1 and F2 Sidecar Championship.
The action kicks off on Friday with free practice sessions for all classes firing into action from 9am, where riders and teams will try to find the perfect set-up.
On Saturday, from 9am, competitors get down to business with qualifying sessions in each and every class and the first races of the weekend for the Australian Sidecars, Supersport 300, Oceania Junior Cup, and R3 Cup.
Sunday will see nearly 8 hours of jam-packed scintillating action in every class including the feature races of the Pirelli Superbike class at 11am and 2.10pm, which will determine who can claim the top spot on the 2021 ASBK Championship points ladder.
In the Pirelli Superbike class there are 23 riders, 6 of whom have won the ASBK Championship in recent times including reigning Champion Wayne Maxwell, Troy Herfoss, Josh Waters, Bryan Staring, Mike Jones, and Glenn Allerton.
Among the challengers will be Cru Halliday, Aiden Wagner, Jed Metcher, Arthur Sissis, Matt Walters, and returning to the Championship, riders Phil Czaj, Markus Chiodo and Lachlan Epis, and new to the class Oli Bayliss and Yanni Shaw, are just a few of the riders in this year’s Championship hunt.
There has been plenty of movement in the Superbike class in the off-season with new riders entering the fray, Supersport class riders stepping up and former Superbike riders returning from overseas commitments.
In recent weeks riders have hit the track for practice in the hope to find the winning formula for Winton this weekend.
While there has been plenty of banter around the pits at these practice sessions, it will be up to teams and riders to deliver this weekend to ensure they start their Championship chase on the right foot.
With 19 riders, the Motorsports TV Supersport class is no different, with a number of young guns from the Dunlop Supersport 300 class moving up to challenge championship regulars.
This year, World Supersport 300 riders Tom Edwards and Tom Bramich return to the ASBK paddock to take on Championship regulars Broc Pearson, Aiden Hayes, Max Stauffer, Jack Passfield and Jack Hyde in the Motorsports TV Supersport class.
The Dunlop Supersport 300 class sees a massive field of 34 riders aboard Yamaha YZF-R3s and Kawasaki Ninja 400s which always provide sensational handle-bar to handle-bar action on track.
This class will see several riders stepping up from the Oceania Junior Cup class full-time, and new entrants taking on the regulars such as Brandon Demmery, Laura Brown, Joseph Marinello and Carter Thompson.
The YFS R3 Cup is a one make championship with all 27 riders aboard Yamaha YZF-R3 machines.
This is yet another class which provide spectacular close racing action and often sees riders also competing in the Supersport 300 class. This single make Yamaha class always guarantees a close finish to the chequered flag.
2020 R3 Cup Champion Carter Thompson returns to defend his title up against some of the toughest competition in this class.
Officially supported by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), FIM Oceania and recognised by Dorna Sports sl, as part of the Road to MotoGP program, the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup will field 20 young riders.
In 2021, 13 new riders join the OJC which always provides sensational action and often sees a dozen riders cross the finish line within millimetres of each other.
This junior academy class is well on the way to producing Champions of the future.
The Horsell Australian F1 and F2 Sidecar Championship will see 12 sidecar riders and their passengers take on the challenging Winton circuit.
The sidecars were unable to get on track in 2020 due to COVID-19, and this weekend will be the first hit out for sidecars in over 12 months.
Brothers and 2019 Champions, Corey and Danyon Turner will be hoping to continue their form where they left off and take the chequered flag.
Tickets are very limited for this weekend’s Round 2, mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, at Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, and only available online via www.asbk.com.au
If you can’t get track side, don’t despair we have you covered through our official TV partners SBS Australia, Fox Sports Australia, Fox Sports Asia and through ASBK TV Live Streaming.
Coverage begins Sunday on SBS Vicelands or Fox Sports Channel 507 from Midday to 3pm, and the ASBK TV Live Stream coverage runs all day from 9.30am to 4.20pm via www.asbk.com.au
